FOR more than three decades, the people of Queenscliff bemoaned the little-used basketball stadium that stood beside their footy ground and wondered if one day it might be put to better use.

''We used to call it the 'white elephant','' recalled Bill Comerford, president of the Queenscliff Community Sports Club, which oversees the facilities used by the town's football, netball and cricket clubs.

Comerford has spearheaded the charge to have the brick stadium, known as the Monahan Centre, redeveloped into something that would be a true community asset. Now, after 15 years of negotiations, discussions and squabbles, his dream is being realised.

By the start of the 2013 footy season, the Monahan Centre will house new change rooms for footballers, netballers, cricketers and umpires, along with a canteen and a function room. ''We believe this is the greatest thing that's happened for the town for many, many years,'' Comerford said.

The Monahan Centre was built in 1976. In contrast to the respected sporting family that it was named after, the centre attracted little love from the locals. ''What happened was the footy club needed new change rooms,'' said Keith Cohen, a local teacher who has been a Queenscliff football player, coach and committee member. ''The council decided the best way to go was to build the change rooms and an indoor stadium at the same time. They had an American architect come over and he made an under-sized everything.''

Added Comerford: ''It was done through the public works department in Melbourne. An ex-councillor told me that when they saw the plans they weren't happy with them. It was going to cost $3000 to change them, and they didn't have the money, so the government just built it.''

The basketball court was so small that it was practically useless, while the change rooms were no better. ''The footy club said, 'This is crap','' Cohen explained. ''So they built new club rooms next door one year later.''

Those hastily constructed facilities weren't ideal then and are rustic at best now. The changing areas are tiny.

Comerford learnt about the white elephant not long after he and his wife Peg moved to Queenscliff. Having decided he should try and resolve the situation, he soon realised it was going to be tough.

A breakthrough came when the local state MP, Labor's Lisa Neville, became involved not long after she won the seat of Bellarine in the 2002 election. Neville lobbied the then-sports minister Justin Madden, who encouraged the locals to prepare a grant application. In 2007 the Queenscliff Community Sports Club was awarded $500,000.

''Lisa is the one who has really helped us get where we are,'' Comerford said. ''For years we had governments at all levels put up so many barriers. We've had so many changes of council; some were supportive and some weren't. That's why it's taken so long.''

The redevelopment of the Monahan Centre began last year when the old basketball floor was ripped up and the accompanying squash courts dismantled. Since then some impressive progress has been made. With footy club president and local builder Merv Godfrey leading the way, the former stadium has been converted into a two-storey building. A spacious change room for Queenscliff's footballers is among the many facilities under construction on the bottom floor, along with a much smaller room for visiting teams. Upstairs, the function room is edging towards completion.

''There'll be seating for almost 200 people,'' Cohen said proudly.

Godfrey estimates that if an outside contractor was brought in to complete the Monahan Centre redevelopment, the total cost would be around $3 million. At the moment, the Queenscliff Sports Club has only $1 million to spend (on top of the $500,000 from the state government; it has received $250,000 from the local council and another $250,000 from the footy, netball and cricket clubs).

As a result, the project is being done in stages. Godfrey and another builder, Steve Clark, have worked hard to ensure the supply of cash will be enough to finish stage one, which includes the various change rooms and the function room.

''We say, 'It's a community project, can you help us out?' And they've done it,'' said Godfrey. ''The scaffolding was a $30,000 job; the guy did it for half-price.

''A previous club president, who runs a doors business in Geelong, has provided all the door furniture.''

Thousands of hours of volunteer labour have also been contributed by people such as Godfrey's son, known to all as ''BJ'', who has done much of the plumbing. ''He didn't have a lot of choice,'' Merv joked. ''But seriously, we're going to have the biggest donations plaque on any building you've ever seen.''

The second stage will feature community meeting rooms and a coffee lounge with outstanding views of the Rip. Plans for stage three include a spa, sauna and a community gym.

Comerford and his committee are planning to enact some big changes outside the Monahan Centre as well. To make room for footy fans to congregate in front of the renovated building, the oval, which sits amid a caravan park, will be moved a couple of metres north once this season is finished. Better training lights are another much-needed improvement. Until now, the club has been barred from installing lights on the northern side of the oval as they would shine towards the Rip, making them a shipping hazard. But now that ships are guided by GPS technology, rather than lighthouses, such rules are being reviewed.

Godfrey has no doubt that Queenscliff's recent success on the footy field has helped boost local support for all the work. The Coutas last year won their first Bellarine league flag since 1975, and right now they're undefeated and on top of the ladder after seven rounds.

By Adam McNicol

Article first appeared The Sunday Age May 27, 2012